Clash of symbols

BESIDES hats, other shorthand symbols used to define modern protests include:

In 2014, pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong carried umbrellas as a shield against teargas. The umbrellas became a symbol of the resistance movement and soon the phrase “Umbrella Revolution” appeared in the media;

In Russia this year, protesters in anticorruption marches wore Nike takkies strung around their necks by the laces to satirise the luxury items purchased by Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev;

In Taiwan, the sunflower gained popularity as a symbol of protest after a 2014 march in which 100 000 protesters converged on Taipei accusing their leaders of pushing through a trade deal with China. It became known as the Sunflower Movement; and

In Greece in 2015, household cleaning gloves became the symbol of protest against austerity measures. This was after a large group of women (mainly cleaners) camped in the streets of central Athens after 600 cleaning jobs were cut in the country’s finance ministry offices.

DRESSED FOR PROTEST: Members of the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, right, and, far right, the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan

Pictures: GETTY IMAGES and REUTERS